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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-06-05 EDDA MINUTESENGLEWOOD DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 3333 SOUTH BANNOCK, SUITE 480 SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS JUNE 5, 1996 MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT: Close, Coleman, Collins, Kaufman, Kientz, Oxman, Sanchez, Clapp, Duemke MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Celva, Doyle GUESTS/VISITORS: Manager of Business & Neighborhood Services, (EDDA Liaison) Bob Simpson; Art Scabelli, City Business Coordinator I. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS AND VISITORS Chairman Close welcomed Manager of Business & Neighborhood Services, (EDDA Liaison) Bob Simpson; and City Business Coordinator, Art Scabelli to the Board meeting. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The meeting was called to order at 12:25 p.m. Chairman Close asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the May 8th Board meeting. There being none, a motion was made by Ron Kientz, seconded by Gary Oxman and passed unanimously approving the minutes as presented. III. TREASURER'S REPORT Gary Oxman reported that the April, 1996, Treasurer's Report and Revenues and Expenditure Report showed normal tracking with an ending revenue balance of $63,724.55. Gary asked for clarification of the encumbrances, $4,444.50. Karen Doyle stated that the encumbrances represented the cost of the performers for the concerts, and that she would provide a breakdown of those charges at the July Board meeting. Gary asked if there were any correction to the reports. There were none, a motion was made by Ron Kientz, seconded by Steve Collins and passed unanimously approving the reports as presented. IV. DIRECTOR'S REPORT A. Concert Series Director Celva told the Board that EDDA has not as yet received any information on the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District grant but that we have 5 of the 6 banks in the downtown district helping to sponsor the concert series, as well as, the Musical Performers Trust Fund. The banks are: Bank One, Colonial Bank, Norwest Bank, First Interstate of Englewood and Community First Bank. Connie asked if EDDA would be using the coupon booklet again this year. Harold told Connie no, he had spoken to several different merchants who had coupons in the booklet and while they initially thought it was a good idea they did not get any of the coupons back. Harold informed the Board that he had put a request into city Council Monday, to modify plantings on the Plaza to provide visibility of the stage from all areas of the Plaza. Last year EDDA had so many people at the concerts that finding places to sit where you could hear and see the concerts was a problem. City Council's reaction was generally quite positive with only one individual opposed to doing any modifications to the plantings. A final agreement was reached, that EDDA would hire a landscape architect to take a look at these planters and suggest plantings for them. EDDA would replace the plant material and the City would do the planting. Harold added, that he was still trying to get some feel of the area and how much of a tree pit exists now and if a tree can really root and be healthy. Director Celva stated that he is concerned that a problem may be developing around the concert series. Since the event is so successful and draws a large audience a greater number of assorted interest want to use the venue to promote their own individual concerns. Gordon told the Board that last year EDDA had displays from the friends of the Englewood Library and that the Englewood Education Foundation had sold chances on a 1966 Ford Mustang at the concerts. Gordon added, that EDDA stresses that the concerts are sponsored by the businesses of downtown Englewood and the paying sponsors. Steve Collins told the Board that the City Library should be able to display material at the concerts because they are within the district, that " should be the only criteria for who can participate. At this point, while EDDA is producing the concerts and does have a permit for the use of the park, we have no authority relating to vendors or other users. Harold gave several recent examples that have given rise to his concern. He suggested that perhaps some further agreement with the City needed to be put in place that would allow EDDA this necessary control at these events. Board member Clapp questioned why EDDA could not tell a party they could not use this area. Harold replied that EDDA simply does not have that authority. Chairman Close added that a good deal of time, energy and money has been invested in the series and that the integrity of the event needed to be insured. He spoke further of a "saturation point" being reached on unrelated activities at the event and that EDDA's goals in holding the concerts needed to be a primary consideration. Celva reiterated that the event has become a community event and that EDDA would try to · work with all entities to allow them use of the venue, but questioned what means existed to give EDDA the needed authority over the site. Bob Simpson felt that the issue needed to be taken to City Council as opposed to being handled administratively. Laurie Clapp said she would help with this. Director Celva told the Board that on Monday he had met with the Community Services Advisory Committee and had for the first time met the new Chief Building Official for the City of Englewood, Michael Stitt. He stated that Mr. Stitt had emphasized that the new philosophy of the department was one of customer service and would include viewing "people as the client" as opposed to the building as client. B. The Downtown Development Plan Trina asked for a current update on the downtown development plan. Harold told the Board that the only thing that has been done in the last three weeks since the last Board meeting, was that Ron Straka had conducted some one on one interviews. This was due to the fact that Ron Straka was out of town and Harold was away from the office. Steve asked if there were any plans to continue with the downtown plan. Harold told the Board that there are plans for the process to be continued. Director Celva explained that in his absence Ron Straka had met with Bob Simpson and representatives of Clarion Associates in order to help determine how the different planning processes could be coordinated. Celva said that his understanding from Ron Straka was that a primary outcome of this meeting was a request by , Clarion for input on two items related to their work. They are tenant mix at the redeveloped site and connections between the site and the EDDA district. Since Straka was unable to attend the Board meeting, he had sent two pages listing issues, already identified in group meetings, that are germane to Clarions' request, these were distributed to the Board. Celva also explained that Straka had expressed the need to have this information to Clarion by their June 12th public meeting. Celva asked Bob Simpson and Art Scabelli to correct or add to these thoughts since they had been at the meeting. Bob Simpson explained both Clarions' request and the upcoming process. Discussion continued on the development, the process and potential EDDA input. Since time for discussion of this topic was running out, members of the Board, who had additional points concerning these issues were requested to submit them in writing. It was suggested by a Board member that to much time was being spent going over the same things and that EDDA needed to get on with doing something positive and quit wasting time on reviewing the same issues. V. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT A. Executive Director's Annual Review At Laurie Clapp's request the annual review of the Executive Director was rescheduled for Wednesday, June 12th at 12:00 noon. The meeting adjourned. submitted,